The Xiaomi 14 is speculated to come with a Leica camera and a compact design, making it an appealing choice for consumers, including myself. It’s encouraging to see Xiaomi’s dedication to producing high-quality Android phones, as increased competition benefits both the segment and consumers.

So, is the Xiaomi 14 worth considering? Is it groundbreaking enough to justify its price tag of Rs 69,999? After testing the device extensively, here are my insights as the Xiaomi 14 becomes available in stores.

Compact Design:

I’m a strong advocate of compact flagship phones. With most devices becoming oversized and mundane, Xiaomi’s decision to create a compact flagship is commendable, especially when other major brands have moved away from this trend. The Xiaomi 14 impressively packs a larger screen into a smaller body, making it comfortable to hold and carry.

The phone fits perfectly in hand and pocket, unlike many mainstream smartphones, including the hefty iPhone 15 Pro Max. At 193 grams, it’s lightweight yet durable, featuring a sleek squared camera module on the back and a fingerprint-resistant matte black finish. The design exudes premium quality, and the phone’s IP68 rating ensures durability. The flat screen with Gorilla Glass Victus protection and flat edges around the frame adds to its appeal.

High-Quality Display:

The 6.3-inch AMOLED screen dominates the front, except for a notch housing the front camera. The fingerprint sensor under the screen is responsive, and the display offers a sharp resolution of 2,670 x 1,200 pixels, delivering 460 pixels per inch. The dynamic refresh rate ranging from 1 Hz to 120 Hz ensures smooth animations and scrolling, optimizing battery life when necessary. The display is bright enough for outdoor use, supports Dolby Vision and HDR10+, and provides an enjoyable movie-watching experience.

Performance:

Equipped with the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 processor, 12GB of RAM, and 512GB of internal storage, the Xiaomi 14 delivers blazing-fast performance. It handles intensive tasks seamlessly, from running apps like LinkedIn and Netflix to handling large mobile games and image editing. However, it’s worth noting that the Gen AI features are currently missing in the HyperOS, which could be a drawback considering the current tech trends emphasizing AI capabilities.

Battery Life:

The Xiaomi 14’s 4,610 mAh battery offers decent performance, lasting through a day of moderate use. However, heavy usage may require recharging by night. Fortunately, the phone comes with a 90-watt charger and USB-C cable for quick charging, replenishing the battery in just over half an hour.

Camera Quality:

Highlighted as a standout feature, the Leica camera system comprises three 50-megapixel lenses, offering impressive capabilities. The telephoto lens excels in portrait shots, while the main camera provides excellent dynamic range. However, the camera’s performance may not match that of top competitors like the Galaxy S24 Ultra or iPhone 15 Pro, especially in capturing natural tones and textures.

Verdict:

Despite minor drawbacks, the Xiaomi 14 stands out as a compelling premium Android smartphone. Its compact design, robust performance, and impressive camera system make it a strong contender in the market.

Uber introduced its “Emission Savings” feature on Tuesday, allowing users to track the amount of tailpipe carbon dioxide emissions they save by opting for Uber Green vehicles. Uber Green offers electric vehicles rather than internal combustion engine vehicles.

The company rolled out this feature in Delhi-NCR, Mumbai, and Bengaluru as part of its effort to encourage a shift towards sustainable choices. This initiative aims to educate riders about their environmental impact and motivate them to adopt a low-emissions lifestyle.

Nitish Bhushan, Head of Central Operations at Uber India, stated, “We understand that people often find it challenging to gauge their environmental contribution by using a sustainable energy vehicle for a single ride. Having a clear understanding of this impact is crucial for making informed decisions about sustainability in daily life. The Emission Savings feature is designed to facilitate this.”

Users can access an estimate of their saved tailpipe emissions by tapping the “Estimated CO2 saved” button in the Account section of the app. Additionally, the feature includes a graphic illustrating the equivalent of their CO2 emissions savings.

Uber calculates emission savings by comparing the average emissions when a user chooses Uber Green over an Uber Premier trip covering the same distance.

OpenAI announced on Friday that CEO Sam Altman would be returning to the company’s board, following a previous episode where he was fired and then reinstated after an internal investigation found his termination to be unjustified.

Joining Altman on the board are three new directors: Sue Desmond-Hellmann, former CEO of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation; Nicole Seligman, former president of Sony Entertainment; and Fidji Simo, CEO of Instacart. They will be joining Bret Taylor, chair of the OpenAI board, along with Ex-Salesforce co-CEO Bret Taylor and former US Treasury Secretary Larry Summers, who were appointed in the aftermath of the November 2023 upheaval.

The reinstatement of Altman follows a tumultuous period where his sudden firing by the board triggered turmoil within the company. However, after facing backlash from employees and intervention from Microsoft, Altman was eventually reinstated.

An internal investigation, conducted by the law firm WilmerHale, concluded that Altman and president Greg Brockman were indeed the appropriate leaders for OpenAI.

The company, known for its advancements in generative AI, has faced challenges from competitors like Google and Meta, as well as legal disputes, including a lawsuit from Elon Musk alleging a breach of contract and another from The New York Times alleging unauthorized use of its content.

Despite these challenges, OpenAI remains committed to its mission of ensuring artificial general intelligence benefits humanity, with Altman’s return seen as a positive step towards achieving this goal.